In response to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden traveling to New Hampshire to highlight the benefits of the American Rescue Plan for Granite Staters, Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas released the following statement:
“With the historic American Rescue Plan signed into law, President Biden did exactly what he promised he’d do: get direct relief to Granite Staters and Americans across the country while taking bold action to defeat the coronavirus.
“Thanks to Congressional Democrats and President Biden, 597,000 direct checks for $1,400, millions of dollars for vaccine distribution, over 350 million for school reopenings and lower health care costs for thousands of Granite Staters will soon be available for those who need it most.
“While President Biden, Vice President Harris and the entire Biden Administration make a full-court press to educate Americans about how the American Rescue Plan will deliver direct relief, every Republican member of congress will be forced to defend their decision to vote against the bill that is getting money into pockets, shots into arms and kids back to the classroom.”
Last week, Protect Our Care launched a new digital ad campaign to thank Democrats including Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) for voting for the American Rescue Plan. The campaign also included ads criticizing Republican lawmakers for voting against the bill.
BACKGROUND:
Fact Sheet: New Hampshire & The American Rescue Plan
With the final passage of the American Rescue Plan, New Hampshire will benefit from at least $3.7 billion in funding from the federal government. This amount includes money for direct stimulus checks for Granite Staters as well as funding to open schools safely, fund child care, ramp up vaccinations and testing, provide rental assistance, cut health care costs, and provide state and local aid.
The American Rescue Plan’s Stimulus Payments Will Help 597,000 Granite Staters Who Are Facing The Pandemic’s Economic Fallout
The American Rescue Plan includes direct stimulus payments of $1,400. According to the Congressional Research Service, about 597,000 Granite Staters will receive these payments. In total, Granite Staters will receive about $1.5 billion.
The American Rescue Plan Will Expand Unemployment Benefits Through September, Benefitting Over 11 Million Americans, Including 15,760 Granite Staters
The American Rescue Plan will extend federal unemployment benefits through September, including for self-employed or contract workers and adds a $300-a-week federal supplement to state unemployment insurance payments. According to the Century Foundation, 11.4 million Americans will benefit from this provision of the American Rescue Plan, including 15,760 Granite Staters who will benefit from extended federal unemployment payments.
New Hampshire Public Schools And Colleges Will Receive Millions In Needed Funding From The American Rescue Plan To Open Safely
The American Rescue Plan includes $170 billion for K-12 and higher education, including $130 billion to enable K-12 schools to open safely during the pandemic. Another $35 billion will go toward higher education, including financial assistance for students. The remaining $5 billion will go to governors to use for any level of education in their states. According to the Congressional Research Service, New Hampshire will receive $351 million in K-12 school funding to ensure that schools can open up safely. New Hampshire will also receive $161.8 million in funding for higher education.
The American Rescue Plans Provides $24 Billion To Assist Child Care Providers, Including $48 Million For New Hampshire
The American Rescue Plan also creates a $24 billion fund to assist child care providers in financial distress, including those facing costs to improve safety amid the pandemic. According to the Congressional Research Service, New Hampshire will receive $48 million from this fund, which could help alleviate soaring child care costs for New Hampshire families.
The American Rescue Plan Provides Millions Of Dollars In Support For Head Start, Including $1.8 Million For New Hampshire
The American Rescue Plan provides $1 billion in funding for Head Start, a program that provides early childhood services to low-income families. According to the Congressional Research Service, New Hampshire will receive $1.8 million for Head Start.
New Hampshire’s Vaccine And Testing Operation Will Ramp Up Significantly With Additional Funds
The American Rescue Plan devotes $16 billion to a national vaccination program in partnership with states, localities, tribes and territories and includes $50 billion to buy rapid tests, expand lab capacity, and help schools and local governments conduct more tests. This funding will help Granite Staters get vaccinated faster.
Granite Staters Will See $152 Million In Emergency Rental Assistance From The American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan extends the eviction and foreclosure moratorium through September and includes $25 billion to help renters and small landlords with back rent and $5 billion for paying energy and water bills. According to Senate Democrats, New Hampshire will receive $152 million in emergency rental assistance funding.
The ARP’s Expanded Child Tax Credit Will Benefit 27 Million Children, Including 52,000 New Hampshire Children, And Lift 4.1 Million Children, Including 0,800,0 New Hampshire Children, Out Of Poverty
The American Rescue Plan includes an expansion of the Child Tax Credit that will cut child poverty by more than 40 percent. The plan makes the full Child Tax Credit available to children in families with low earnings and would increase the credit’s maximum amount to $3,000 per child and $3,600 for children under 6. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this expansion will benefit 52,000 New Hampshire children and list 0,800,0 New Hampshire children out of poverty. In total, 87 percent of New Hampshire children will benefit from this expansion.
The American Rescue Plan Will Lower Healthcare Costs For Granite Staters Who Purchase Healthcare Through The Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace
The American Rescue Plan lowers the cost of premiums for Granite Staters purchasing coverage through the ACA marketplace, ensuring enrollees have the option to purchase health care for less than 8.5 percent of their income for the next two years. For instance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a family of four Granite Staters with an income of $120,000 would see savings of $291 a month, or $3,492 a year, under the American Rescue plan. The American Rescue Plan also provides robust financial incentives for the 14 states that have not yet implemented Medicaid expansion.
New Hampshire Will See $1.5 Billion In State And Local Aid From The American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan includes $350 billion in state and local funding. According to Senate Democrats, New Hampshire and its localities will receive $1.5 billion in funding.